September 2010

“Dad, I can’t find my homework!”“Did you look on the table?”“Yes; it’s not there!”“Hmm...did you look under your backpack, jacket, and lunchbox? Because that’s where I found it.”

With the fresh start of a new school year now is a
good time to prioritize how we organize. Organization means different
things to different people, even within families. Getting organized can
mean a household in which everyone pitches in to complete chores, it can
mean finding time for complex science fair projects, or it can refer to
juggling complex family schedules. Teaching kids the skills to plan
future events, manage homework and activities, and be part of the family
team that keeps the household running smoothly is a great parenting
gift that serves children well into high school and beyond.

Tips for...

all parents

Organizational skills can be taught. Bring your children into the
family planning and decision-making process for vacations and
celebrations, schedules for family computer use, neighborhood block
parties, and so on. It does take more time, but it’s a positive
investment in children’s growth.

Resist the urge to buy expensive products that will help you
organize. Instead, start by taking a quick inventory of your home to see
if there are three things you can do to improve your family’s
organization. Then do it!

parents with children ages birth to 5

Use simple storage methods, including baskets or tubs with large
openings, for putting away children’s toys, books, and other supplies.
Kids can learn to help pick up and store their belongings at a very
young age. (And that’s empowering!)

Let children help you as you make lists for groceries, errands, or family chores.

parents with children ages 6 to 9

Start using a family calendar to write down everybody’s commitments
so that the whole family can keep track of who is going where and when. A
family whiteboard can also be a useful method of keeping track of
commitments.

Remind kids that when they complete their chores, they help the entire family.

By the time children are nine years old, many families are using
planners to track kids’ homework assignments, big projects, and
extracurricular activities. Remember to check the calendar each night
together.

Be intentional about letting kids make plans for a family party or
event. Let them help make guest lists, plan the budget, shop for food
and decorations, and enlist family members to make the event a success.

parents with children ages 10 to 15

If your child hasn’t started using a planner, now is the time to
learn how. Track homework and big projects that have long term
deadlines. Talk about how to break up big projects into small pieces so
that deadlines are not melodramatic events. Check planners together
every night.

As your family organizes its commitments, avoid connecting “getting
organized” with getting rid of stuff. While it’s a good strategy for
most adults, young people may feel nervous and threatened if they think
they have to part with items that are important to them or even part of
their identity.

parents with children ages 16 -to 18

Expect your teens to play an active role in keeping your family
organized, from doing their chores to giving you advance notice when
they need your help, money, or permission to participate in an activity,
and so on. If your teens aren’t helping out through good communication,
you may want to stop bailing them out at some point and let them deal
with the consequences.

Consider using a large white board as a family calendar or planner.
There are also tools on the Internet that can be accessed by all family
members. In this way you can all keep track of each other’s activities,
whereabouts, and needs (such as transportation).

If your teenager still has trouble organizing or completing
homework, call, e-mail, or visit with your school’s guidance counselor
and ask about the kinds of organizational assistance that are available.